Nissan Magnite

We would recommend you look at the Nissan Magnite. Since you are new to driving, the higher seating would offer you a good view outside and a slightly more secure feel compared to hatchbacks or a sedan. The interiors are comfy and spacious enough for a family of four, and since your driving is on highways and city roads, the ride and handling balance of the Magnite will benefit you. 

Highway stability is good, and while the city ride can be firm, it does not feel uncomfortable at any point. Opt for the 1.0 litre non-turbo engine as it offers sufficient performance for a relaxed driving style and would be more fuel efficient than the turbo engine. 

Within your budget, you would also get a decently equipped variant. The Magnite is also a safe car well-equipped with safety features, and it also scored a 5-star rating in the GNCAP tests. 

Reliability is also good, Nissan's dealer network is not widespread, thus make sure you have a dealer in your area who has a good reputation too. If not, consider the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, as a sedan, you will not get that higher seating, but it will meet your other requirements of safety, low maintenance and comfort.    

Moving up from a hatchback to an SUV in a budget of Rs 10-12 lakh, you should check out the Nissan Magnite. Its 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine is punchy and comes with a smooth CVT auto gearbox, which should be handy for driving through crowded city traffic. 

Moreover, this engine is fuel-efficient, and the auto gearbox doesn't lower the mileage too much, which is something you will appreciate. At around Rs 12 lakh, you will get a fully loaded Nissan Magnite with most modern features included, making this one of the best value for money SUVs out there. And to top it all off, the Magnite has a 5-star crash test rating from Global NCAP, which should give you a bit more peace of mind.

For bumper-to-bumper traffic, the Maruti Brezza 1.5 Petrol 6AT is ideal. The engine-gearbox combination is smooth, and it feels peppy within urban confines. 

Also, the 6-speed torque converter is more suited for the constant stop-go usage than other transmission types like AMT or DCT. If you need something even smaller than the Brezza, you can consider the Nissan Magnite 1.0 Turbo CVT, which is another great option for you. 

While a premium hatchback is the logical update for your budget, the simple fact is that even the largest of them, like the Hyundai i20 and Tata Altroz, can't provide quite as much space as a compact SUV in the second row, and three passengers here will be a squeeze. 

Conversely, getting an automatic in most compact SUVs with a decent level of creature comforts would push them outside your budget. The exception here, and the car we would recommend, is the Nissan Magnite. You'll get the fully loaded turbo-petrol CVT version in your budget and it has all the features you need, plus a spacious back seat and comfortable suspension. 

Its 100hp turbo petrol engine will also have enough pep for your weekend getaways with 5 on board. Moreover, it has received a 5-star crash test rating from Global NCAP, which should give you peace of mind.

It's a shame that the Skoda Kylaq's rear seat space is not quite up to the best in the segment, because otherwise it is a superb compact SUV that scores highly on most other counts. Of the other options, the Nissan Magnite, while capable and a great value for money, feels like a sub-segment lower in terms of quality, space and performance. 

The Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX should be your best bet because it offers both - performance and rear-seat space. In fact, it has one of the most spacious cabins in the segment, although the boot is a bit smaller than others. 

The RevX offers a good feature set as well, along with a few unique styling embellishments, and overall, we feel this is the one you should pick. 

As a first-time buyer, it’s good that you’re looking at both sides carefully.

The Citroen C3 is a solid and very likeable car. Its biggest strength is ride comfort, it handles bad roads better than most cars in this segment and feels mature for its size. The 1.2-litre turbo petrol, in particular, is a gem. It’s strong, smooth and easily one of the nicest small-capacity turbo-petrol engines around today. If you enjoy driving and want something that feels a bit different from the usual crowd, the C3 stands out. For your daily run of under 50km and occasional long drives, it will be perfectly comfortable. Mileage is reasonable, especially with the naturally aspirated engine, though the turbo will be slightly lower.

The Nissan Magnite has other strengths. It has better road presence with its SUV styling, a more practical cabin, a bigger boot and a feature list that feels more complete. Nissan, as a brand, has built a reputation for reliability, and its dealership and service network is currently more established than Citroen’s in most cities. That adds peace of mind, especially for a first-time buyer.

So if you like to drive and value comfort and engine performance, the C3 is the more enjoyable car. But if you want a safer, more practical and lower-risk ownership experience, the Magnite is the wiser choice.

Without knowing your budget, it's hard to pinpoint what exactly you're looking for in a car. However, going by your request and assuming you want an upgrade from a Maruti Wagon R, you should check out the Nissan Magnite. 

It has a 5-star Global NCAP rating. At 1758mm, it is not too much wider than the Maruti Wagon R - just about 14cm, and above all else, it is a spacious, practical and good value-for-money compact SUV. At 334 litres, its boot size is decent, and its 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine offers good mileage. 

However, if you want even more boot space, check out the Renault Triber. If you remove the third row of seats, has a solid 625 litres of boot space. It uses the same 1.0-litre petrol engine as the Magnite, and has received a 4-star Global NCAP crash test rating.